"No need to pay installments now; once you have a lump sum, you can settle the debt at once and eliminate it." [Tags: debt management, financial advice]
Many may have seen this advice on social media, but for those who have "gritted their teeth" and maintained financial discipline by paying debts on time, such words can feel painful. The debt resolution world tends to focus more on "problematic debtors" rather than "disciplined ones." [Tags: social media advice, financial discipline, debt]
Especially recently, at the beginning of 2026, [Tags: recent developments, 2026] the Bank of Thailand (BOT) [Tags: Bank of Thailand] has promoted the "Quick Debt Closure, Move Forward" program focusing on helping people with NPLs—meaning those with debts overdue for more than 90 days. But what about the "good debtors" who pay every installment on time? Ultimately, do they receive fewer benefits? [Tags: debt relief program, NPL, good debtors, Bank of Thailand]
The "Quick Debt Closure, Move Forward" program [Tags: debt relief program] launched by the BOT and opened for participation on 5 Jan 2026 focuses on people with NPLs up to 100,000 baht per individual. It covers all financial service providers listed in the credit bureau (NCB), including credit card and personal loan debts. Initially, it emphasizes unsecured loans and residual debts on secured loans, such as cases where homes were repossessed and auctioned but some debt remains. [Tags: debt relief program, NPL, unsecured loans, secured loans, credit bureau]
What debtors gain by joining this program: [Tags: debt relief benefits]
1) Discounts when "fully settling the debt" [Tags: debt settlement, discount] If one has a lump sum, paying off debts transferred to the Sukhumvit Asset Management Company (SAM) yields additional discounts. [Tags: lump sum payment, SAM, debt discount]
2) 0% annual interest if opting for "installment payments" [Tags: interest rate, installment payments] This measure offers partial debt reduction followed by installment payments with SAM for up to 3 years. If payments are made as agreed, interest, fees, and previously accrued charges suspended before joining the program will be waived. [Tags: debt reduction, installment plan, interest waiver]
While this seems like a substantial "discount," for those in the installment scheme who fail to pay on time or cannot settle debts, these discounts will be lost. Furthermore, if agreed installments cannot be met, the credit bureau status will revert to code 26 (over 90 days overdue) due to payment defaults with the AMC that acquired the debt. [Tags: risks, credit status, debt default]
Overall, "Quick Debt Closure, Move Forward" was created as a special measure to address Thailand's high household debt. The BOT believes that assisting those with NPLs under 100,000 baht promptly to improve their credit history can enable access to formal credit without encouraging financial misconduct (moral hazard). Latest data from SAM show nearly 90,000 people registered between 5-7 Jan 2026. [Tags: household debt, financial policy, moral hazard, SAM data]
Note: This program has key conditions: [Tags: program conditions]
- The debtor must have NPL status as of 30 Sep 2025; debts becoming overdue after that date are ineligible. [Tags: eligibility criteria, NPL status]
- The debtor must not be bankrupt or listed in the Anti-Money Laundering Office's (AMLO) sanction list. [Tags: bankruptcy, sanctions, eligibility]
- Certain NPLs are excluded, such as vehicle title loans and nano finance loans guaranteed by the Small Industry Credit Guarantee Corporation (SICGC), since these are secured loans. [Tags: excluded debts, secured loans]
For disciplined payers who pay debts punctually, state and commercial banks are increasingly offering tangible benefits in cash or interest discounts, including: [Tags: financial incentives, disciplined payers]
Government Savings Bank (GSB) [Tags: GSB] Recently introduced the "Good Discipline, Get Rewarded" measure [Tags: GSB program] offering a 1,000 baht cash gift per eligible debtor [Tags: cash incentive] (for those paying on time continuously for 3 years, never having debt write-offs or restructuring, and maintaining normal debt status), targeting borrowers with loans up to 2 million baht, redeemable via the MyMo app by 31 Jan 2026. [Tags: eligibility, loan amount, digital redemption]
Government Housing Bank (GHB) [Tags: GHB] announced in Dec 2025 its "New Year 2026 Gift Project to Promote Financial Discipline for GHB Customers" [Tags: GHB program] which gives a 1,000 baht cashback per debtor with normal account status [Tags: cashback, account status] for all loan accounts under one collateral limit of up to 2 million baht, requiring full and timely payments over 4 years (up to Nov 2025). However, beneficiaries must register for electronic document services via the app, which may be somewhat inconvenient. [Tags: loan conditions, digital registration]
TMBThanachart Bank (ttb) launched the "Good Payer Rewards" campaign mid-2025 for mortgage, personal loan, and vehicle title loan customers with good payment histories. Refinancing or transferring debts to ttb offers additional interest rate discounts. This program continues despite some data indicating it ended on 31 Aug 2025. [Tags: ttb, refinancing, interest discounts]
Based on this data, those who deliberately pay on time and avoid overdue debts (some even paying minimum amounts to avoid NPL status) seem to benefit less than those with non-performing loans. Thairath Money invites consideration of three reasons why disciplined people might gain more. [Tags: payment behavior, benefits analysis]
Negotiating power: [Tags: negotiation] Disciplined payers can approach their current banks to request interest rate reductions (retention) or refinance with other banks for special low rates anytime, saving tens to hundreds of thousands in interest over the loan term. [Tags: interest rate negotiation, refinancing]
Uninterrupted liquidity: [Tags: liquidity, financial stability] Good debtors avoid risks of lawsuits, credit card freezes, or debt collection calls, which carry immeasurable mental health costs. [Tags: legal risk, credit restrictions, mental health]
Clean credit (code 10): [Tags: credit status] A normal account status in the credit bureau is the best "passport" for future borrowing, whether for a bigger home or business loans. Compared to those with a history of NPLs, those with clean credit often have higher approval chances and better interest rates. [Tags: creditworthiness, loan approval]
In many cases, debt write-offs or haircuts come from accumulated unpaid interest that has ballooned into a large sum. So, think carefully—these may not be genuine "debt discounts." [Tags: debt write-off, interest accumulation]
Therefore, do not be persuaded by advice to stop payments to wait for discounts, as the damage to your credit record may cost far more than any discounts you might receive. [Tags: credit damage, payment advice]
Sources: Bank of Thailand, Government Savings Bank, TMBThanachart Bank, Government Housing Bank [Tags: sources, financial institutions]
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